Gland-packing.



I G. WESTINGHOUSE.

GLAND PACKING. APPLICATIPN FILED AUG-20, 1913.

1,187,212. Patented June 13, 1916.

INVENTQR.

HLS ATTORNEY IN FACT erably UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGrNOR TO THE WEST- INGHOUSE MACHINE COMPANY. OF EAST PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GLAND-PACKING.

Application filed August 20, 1913.

made a new and useful Invention in (lland- Packing, of which the following is a specification.

An object of this invention is to produce a new and improved gland packing, which is capable of forming a steam or airtight joint between a rapidly rotating shaft and a stationary casing or stationary element through which the shaft projects. This, as well as other objects, which will readily appear to those skilled in the art, 1 attain by means of packing embodying the features herein described and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application.

In the drawings 1- have illustrated a sectional view of a packing in connection with a fragmental elevation of a turbine shaft. and a fragmental sectional view of aturbine casing through an opening in which the shaft projects.

The packing illustrated includes a ring shape bushing 12. rigidly mounted on the shaft 3, and which is provided with an outwardly projecting annular flange 4. The flange 4 is L shape in cross section, terminating in a cylindrical portion 35, which is contially extending and outwardly projecting annular flanges or leaves 7, which are prefspaced equal distances apart and are similar to each other in form. The inner or casing end of the sleeve 6 is provided with a shoulder 8. and the sleeve is adapted to be so located on the bushing that the shoulder is surrounded by the overhanging portion 5 of the flange 4. The shoulder is also grooved to receiveat least one circumferentially extending packing ring 9, mounted on the sleeve, which is yieldingly forced outwardly and into engagement with the inner cylindrical face of the portion 5, and forms therewith an air or steam-tight fit. A ring 11 surrounds the sleeve 6 and is provided on its inner cylindrical face with inwardly projecting, circumferentially ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916.

Serial No. 785,734.

tending leaves or flanges 12, which interleave with the leaves or flanges 7 and cooperate therewith to form a labyrinth packing between the shaft 3 and the casing 13, through which the shaft extends. It will be understood that the leaves 12 are substantially similar to the leaves 7 and that they are correspondingly spaced along the ring 11.

For the purpose of ease in assemblingthe ring 11 is preferably cut longitudinally; that is. is formed in semi-circular halves which may be secured together in any suitable manner. after they are located in position around the sleeve (3. As illustrated, the ring 11 is threaded into a ring 14, which is shown rigidly mounted on the casing 13, and which will operate to hold the separate parts of the ring 11 together even though no other means are employed for that purpose.

The packing is assembled substantially as follows: The bushing 2 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 3 in such a position that its flanged end is exposed to interior pressures of the casing, when the shaft is in its normal position with relation to the bushing. The bushing. however. is rigidly mounted on the shaft prior to locating the shaft in position relatively to the casing, and the sleeve 6 is also located on the shaft, but it is not positioned with relation to the bushing. The ring 14 is preferably, but not necessarily. formed in one piece and is also placedaround the shaft 3 so-that it can be conveniently mounted in place after the shaft is moved to its proper position relatively to the casing. After the shaft is in this position and the ring 14 is rigidly se cured to the casing, the two parts of the ring 11 are secured together about the sleeve 6, with the leaves or flanges 12 in the proper cooperative position with relation to the leaves or flanges 7. The sleeve 6 is then moved on to the bushing 2 and is slid into place as the ring 11 is screwed into the ring 14. It is. of course, understood that the packing ring 9 is first mounted in the groove formed for its reception in the snoulder 8 of the sleeve and that it moves into engagement with the inner cylindrical face of the portion 5 of the flange 4, and forms therewith an air-tight joint.

Turbine casings are ordinarily divided alinement of the rotor element, packing forming an embodiment of my inalong the horizontal plane passing through the axis of the rotor element inclosed within the casing, so that access may be had to 'the interior of the casing without disturbing the lVhen a vention is employed with a casing so divided, the operation of assembling the packing is materially simplified, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, since the separate halves of the ring 11 can be loseparate halves of the ring 11 can be moved into place with relation to the shaft at any time prior to locating the upper half or cover of the casing in place on the lower half. It will be apparent, however, that the tapped ring l-tprovides a means for adjusting the position of the ring 11 and consequently of the sleeve 6 after the packing is assembled.

While the sleeve 6 is so eonstructedand arranged that it rotates with the bushing on which it is mounted, it is also arranged to permit air pressure to be transmitted between it and the bushing, and it is also so formed that it will move axially with relation to the bushing in response to a preponderance in one direction or the other-of the opposing air pressures to which its opposite ends are subjected. lVith this arrangement the leaves 7 are moved into engagement with the lateral faces of the leaves 12, and are held in place against them with sufficient force to form an air or steam-tight joint, which operates to effectively pack the joint between the shaft and the casing without materially increasing the friction of rotation of the shaft.

I also find it desirable to so form the 1nner cylindrical face of-the sleeve that the internal diameter of the sleeve is greater at each end than it is midway between the ends, as is shown somewhat diagrammatically in the drawings. \Vith this arrangement the sleeve is capable of tilting and of automatically adjusting itself to correct any existing misalinement between the shaft and the bore in the casing.

In the drawings I have illustrated a packing located between the rotating shaft of the turbine and the turbine casing, and when the packing is so employed the flanged end of the bushing 2 will, under operating conditions. be subjected to condenser pressure since it will, in effect, extend into the interior of the casing. The labyrinth packing, formed by the interleaving flanges 7 and 12, is subjected on one side to atmospheric presfound that lubricant is necessary.

- the pressure on the inner end preponderates over the pressure exerted on the outer. end and consequently the sleeve is moved outwardly so that the outer lateral faces of the flanges 7 are moved and held in engagement with the inner lateral faces of the flanges 12 on the ring 11. It is immaterial whether the inner or outer air pressure preponderates, so long as one does preponderate. It is, however, important to so proportion the end areas of the sleeve that the preponderance of the air pressure will not be too great, or, in other words, the end areas of the sleeve should be so proportioned that the opposing pressures will be just unbalanced, since it is important to maintain an unbalanced longitudinal pressure on the sleeve, whichwill maintain an air-tight fit between the flanges 7 and 12, but will permit the flanges to slide freely upon each other.

One of the advantages resulting. from my invention is that the position of the sleeve 6 will automatically adjust itself to take up wear on the flanges, and that the preponderance of pressure actuating the sleeve 6 will vary in direct ratio with variations in the difference between the pressures to which the opposite ends of the packing are subjected, so that it will hold the interleaving flanges into more intimate engagement wit each other when there is a relatively great difference in the pressures inside and outside the casing, than when the pressures to which the opposite ends of the-packing are subjected are more nearly equal. Lnder such conditions the gland will automatically adjust itself for varying internal casing pressures and will efl'ectively pack all pressures with a minimum increase of friction. The sleeve 6 rotates with the shaft and consequently there is no difficulty in maintaining an air or stcam-tight joint between it and the portion 5 of the flange 4, by means of the packing ring 9. i

In the drawings I have shown means for delivering lubricant to the packing if it is The means illustrated consists of a passage 13 provided in the casing 13 which communibe employed'at each end of the turbine casing. and that, inasmuch as the two packings are subjected to similar conditions, they will preferably be similar in construction.

I it will also be apparent that packings embodying my invention can be employed in connection with shafts other than turbine shafts and that they may be employed in packing against relatively great differences in pressure and that the opposite ends of the shittable sleeve 6 may be subjected to rela tively high fluid pressure instead of atmospheric pressure.

It will also be understood that while, in accordance with. the requirements of the patent statutes, I have illustrated what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, various changes. modifications, substitutions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my inventioinwhat 1 claim is:

1. A labyrinth packing, comprising two elements, one fixed and one floating, said floating element being subjected to the same source of pressure on opposite ends, and being so proportioned that the pressure on one end will preponderate in effect over the pressure on the other end.

.2. In a packing. two relatively movable cooperating members, one of said members being subjected on opposite ends to pressure transmitted from the same source and having its end areas so proportioned that the pressure on one end preponderates over the pressure on the other end.

5). in a packing, a longitudinally movable contact sleeve subjected on opposite ends to pressure from the same source and so proportioned that the pressure on one end preponderatcs over the pressure on the other end.

4. in a labyrinth packin two concentric slccvcs having cooperating flanges formed flicrcon. one of said sleeves being movable axially with relation to the other to move said flanges into engagement with each other. said movable sleeve being subjected on opposite ends to pressure from the same source and being so formed that the pressure on one end preponderatcs over the pressure on the other end and operates to hold the flanges of one sleeve in engagement with the flanges of the other sleeve.

5. A packing comprising two elements. one being subjected on opposite cndsto pres sure from the same source and being hcld against the other element by a prcpondcrancc of the fluid pressure on one end.

(3. A labyrinth packing comprising two flanged sleeves'lm-afed concentrically with relation to each other. and with the flanges of one sleeve interleaving with the flanges jccted.

of the other sleeve. and means for subjecting both ends of one sleeve to the pressure to winch one side of said packing 15 sub- 7. A labyrinth packing comprising two flanged sleeves, located concentrically with relation to each other, and with the flanges of one sleeve interleaving with the flanges ol the other, one sleeve being movable axially with relation to the other and being subjected on opposite ends to equal fluid pressures. but having its end areas so proportioned that the pressure in one direction preponderates over the pressure in the other direction.

a. A labyrinth packing comprising two flanged sleeves. located concentrically with relation to each other, and with the flanges of one sleeve interleaving with the flanges of the other sleeve-{one of said sleeves being adjustably mounted on a relatively stationary member. and one being movable in response to fluid pressure, said movable sleeve being subjected on opposite ends to the fluid pressure on one side of the packing and having its ends so proportioned that the fluid pressure on one end of the packing prcponderates over that of the other end and holds the interleaving flanges in packing engagement with each other.

9. In combination in a gland packing, a rotatable bushing. a relatively stationary member surrounding the bushing. two concentric flanged sleeves located between the bushing and said member, with the flanges of one sleeve interleaving with the flanges of the other, one of said sleeves being adjustahly nmunted on said relatively stationary nicmlfier. and the other of said sleeves being mounted on the bushing and movable longitinlinally therealong, said movable sleeve being subjected on opposite ends to atmospheric ressure and being so propor; tioned that tflc atmospheric pressure on one end prepoinlcrates over the pressure on the other end.

id in combination in a gland packing. a rotatable bushing having an L-shaped flange formed on one end thereof. a sleeve mounted on the bushing and movable lon gitudinally thereof. a packing ring between one cud of the --lccvc and the Lshapc flange of the bushing. a ring surrounding the slccvc and having a plurality of circumfercnlially extending flanges which interleave with circumlcrcuiially cxtcnding flanges formed on the sleeve. i

ll. In a gland packing. a rotatable bushing lnonntcd on the shaft to be packed and having a flange formed on one end thereof, a stationary member surrouinling the bushing. a sleeve mountcd on ilnbushing and subjected on cach cud-to prcssurc from the same soulctn a packing ring located between the sleeve and the flange formed on th:

bushing, a flanged ring' surrounding the sleeve and having a plurality of circumferentially extending flanges which interleave with circumferentially extending flanges formed on the sleeve, and means for adjustably mounting said ring on said stationary member.

12. In a gland packing, a rotatable bushing, a flanged sleeve mounted on said bushin and movable longitudinally thereof, said sleeve being subjected on opposite ends tothe same fluid pressure and having its end areas so proportioned that the pressure on one end preponderates over the pressure on the other, a flanged ring surrounding the sleeve and having its flanges'interleaving with the flanges of the sleeve, and means for introducing lubricant to the interleaving flanges of the sleeve and the ring.

In testimony 'Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed'my name this 14th day of August, 1913.

GEO. WESTINGHOUSE. Witnesses:

C. W. MOGHEE, E. W. MCCALLISTER. 

